A member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and his date have miffed Asian students at the University of Pennsylvania after it was revealed they named their beer pong team “VietPong” at a frat party.
Pictures of the couple — “dressed in camouflage gear with war paint on their cheeks” at the frat’s popular FIJI date night — were posted to Instagram and acquired by The Daily Pennsylvanian.
The frat member’s identity has not been revealed as he hasn’t been “formally accused of any wrongdoing;” nevertheless, the Asian Pacific Student Coalition and Vietnamese Student Association ripped the student and his date for their insensitivity.
“The political background and attire associated with the Viet Cong should not be treated as a joke and adorned so casually,” [VSA President Nicole] Phan said. “The ignorance of our history is representative of the overarching issue of stereotyping and misrepresenting the Asian community without consequences.”
The frat brother sent a formal apology to the APSC which was later shared with Ms. Phan’s organization. But as might be expected, Phan did not consider this case “isolated.”
Phan said such an incident should not be considered isolated since it reflects greater issues within campus culture, especially given the current political and social climate in the United States.
“In such a racially tense period, such an occurrence on this campus only reminds minority communities and people of color that they are marginalized,” Phan said. “This incident highlights the lack of progressive thinking on our campus and goes to show that our campus still has a far ways to go.”
Chair of APSC and Wharton junior Yen-Yen Gao echoed the concerns voiced by the VSA in an interview with the DP, adding that while she appreciated the fact that the FIJI member immediately issued an apology to the Asian-American community, she still questions whether the brother fully understands the implications of his actions.
“Yes, in their apology letter to us they said they realize there are significant historical implications but I question if they actually do,” Gao said. “I question if they had realized this or if they had known. If they had, they wouldn’t have even considered it.”
Director of the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life Eddie Banks-Crosson said “We are deeply troubled by this incident. This was not a registered event. This behavior has no place in Greek life at Penn and is not an adequate reflection of who we are.”
A commenter to the story writes “There was no intention of ‘misrepresenting’ the Asian community. The Vietcong does not equal Vietnamese or Asians for that matter. This was just a military group. Are we so sensitive nowadays that we have to rely on these slippery slope arguments just to feel like a victim?”
Frankly, I’m a bit surprised the progressive Penn community didn’t laud the couple for emulating the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) as it (successfully) fought against the imperialist, capitalist forces of the United States and its puppet, South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
MORE: UCLA frat in trouble for making ‘racial sensitivity’ jokes three years ago
MORE: Frat says it was framed in video that promises to lynch black students
Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter
IMAGE: Steve Allen/Shutterstock
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.